Foreword
As the largest economy outside of London and the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the West Midlands has a duty to lead the fight against climate change.
West Midlands Combined Authority declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and set a target date to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2041. The COVID-19 pandemic has since forced us to adapt our daily lives and rethink the other changes we could make to our business, personal lives and the systems that underpin our economy and society for the better.
WM2041: A Programme for Implementing an Environmental Recovery sets out how we can achieve this goal and identifies the need to kickstart the circular economy for the region as a key priority.
By developing a circular economy for the West Midlands, we open new opportunities to generate economic advantage, safeguard existing jobs and create new ones.
Similar approaches are underway across the world’s leading cities and demonstrate the significant opportunities that will be fundamental to resetting, rebuilding and recharging our region post COVID-19 through a green recovery.
If we are to realise this moment of opportunity, we need active participation from businesses both small and large, from our communities and our public sector.
Please take the opportunity to get involved and help kickstart the West Midlands’ circular economy.